Expert Care for Eye Conditions and Common Eye Problems

Blepharitis is a common eye condition that causes inflammation of the eyelids. It can be triggered by excess bacteria, changes in the oil glands, dandruff of the eyelid skin, or overgrowth of demodex mites in the eyelash follicles. This condition can occur at any age.

There is no cure for blepharitis, as it is a chronic condition, but there are several treatments to control symptoms. These treatments include warm compresses to loosen debris, eyelid scrubs with diluted baby shampoo, antibiotics, and artificial tears to relieve dryness and irritation. Consistent eyelid hygiene is key to controlling this condition.

Cataracts are most commonly an age-related, progressive condition which begins in our 50s and 60s. With cataracts, the natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy due to changes in the lens proteins, causing blurry vision, glare, and difficulty seeing at night. This eye condition is diagnosed through a comprehensive eye exam that examines the crystalline lens.

The only effective treatment for cataracts is cataract surgery: the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a clear intraocular lens (IOL). Professional Eye Associates offers advanced, same-day, no stitch cataract surgery with multiple IOL options to suit your vision needs and lifestyle.

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics are at risk for vision loss from diabetic retinopathy. Uncontrolled blood sugar and duration of disease are strong risk factors. Early stages often don’t show any symptoms, which is why regular dilated eye exams are crucial to ensure early diagnosis in diabetes patients.

As the disease progresses, the blood vessels in the retina begin to break down and leak, which can lead to blurry vision, floaters, or even blindness. Treatments include laser surgery or anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) injections, but the best treatment of all is prevention.

Dry eyes is a common condition caused by reduced tear production or poor tear quality. Dry eye symptoms can develop as early as in your 20s and progresses in severity with age. It affects most older adults, especially women experiencing hormonal changes (such as menopause). There are a wide range of symptoms including stinging, burning, aching, “gritty” sensation, blurry vision, and watery eyes.

Diagnosis involves a comprehensive eye exam to evaluate tear production and eye surface health. Treatments include artificial tears or prescription medications. Lifestyle changes such as taking breaks from screens or using humidifiers can also help alleviate symptoms.

Floaters are an eye condition that causes visual disturbances like specks, spots, or cobwebs drifting across your vision. These disturbances are caused by tiny clumps of vitreous opacities, which are very small structures in the eye. Floaters can develop at any age, but are more common as you get older.

Floaters are diagnosed through a comprehensive eye exam. Although most floaters are harmless, there is a specific form of floater called a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) which occurs when the vitreous separates off the retina. PVDs have a small but real risk for as associated retinal tear which can lead to retinal detachment and blindness. Prompt attention with an eye doctor is advised to prevent this complication. Persistent and stable floaters can be treated successfully with laser vitreous floater-lysis.

Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages the optic nerve due to increased eye pressure. It can occur at any age, but is more common in adults over 40. There are two main types of glaucoma: open-angle glaucoma and narrow-angle glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma develops gradually and is often symptomless, which means early detection is key to preventing further nerve damage and vision loss.

On the other hand, narrow-angle glaucoma is a sight threatening emergency which results in severe eye pain, headache, and vision loss. Treatment focuses on lowering eye pressure and may include eye drops, oral medications, laser therapy, or surgery to avoid permanent vision loss and further damage.

Myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism are forms of refractive error, which occur from a mismatch between the length of the eye and the light bending power of the patient’s optical system. Myopes are called nearsighted, because they can see near objects clearly, but have trouble seeing far. Farsightedness is actually a poor description for hyperopia, because vision is blurry for both far and near objects. Astigmatism causes blurry vision at all distances, because the optical system is shaped more like a football rather than a soccer ball. Treatments include glasses, contact lenses, or surgical options like LASIK. 

Presbyopia is an age-related loss of flexibility within the natural lens which reduces range of vision. This can be managed with reading glasses, monovision contact lenses, bifocals, or progressive lenses.

Pterygium is an eye condition caused by prolonged sun and wind exposure that leads to a growth of fleshy tissue on the cornea. Adults in their 20s to 40s who spend a lot of time outdoors are more susceptible to this condition. Mild cases can be treated with lubricating eye drops to reduce irritation, while severe cases that affect vision or cause persistent discomfort may require surgical removal. Wearing UV-protective sunglasses can help prevent pterygium from developing or worsening.